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Gillingham manager Neil Harris knows his team need to sharpen up in attack and plans are already in place to make that happen.
Harris felt his side should have put Charlton to the sword on Tuesday night before the visitors had a chance to hit back in the second half of their friendly match at Priestfield. The Addicks won 3-1.
There was nothing wrong with Gillingham’s build-up in that first 45 minutes but they couldn't score from open play. Their first-half goal came from Will Wright’s direct free-kick.
Harris said: “We were sharp, made forward runs, passed the ball forward, had some good interplay - clever play - and we dominated a top-six League 1 team and we just weren’t clinical enough.
“Is that pre-season? Is that good defending at times or a lack of clinical nature?
“That’s what I need to watch back and give my players the benefit of the doubt because ultimately in that front line Tom Nichols got double figures last year, Lapo (George Lapslie) got double figures and Jonny (Williams) got double figures.
“The ability is there and it is just making sure we sharpen up in that area and add goals around it as well. That will come.
“We just missed that clinical edge (on Tuesday) but we have done nothing around the box (in training so far) to be fair, the crossing and finishing drills start Thursday onwards. We’ve not done that yet, that will come, that will sharpen the boys up.
“It is not just about shooting and crossing and finishing, it is about sharpening the mind, one versus one, two versus two, three versus three.
“Everything has been slightly bigger so far, we need to condense it. Some of the lads did a session on Monday, smaller [sided] stuff, which was really good. More will do that on Thursday and then we will all do something Friday in preparation for Saturday.”
Next up for the Gills is a trip to National League South side Dartford this Saturday (1pm) before a behind-closed-doors match away to Cambridge United on Tuesday. A Gills XI will be at Lordswood that night (July 25).
Following Saturday’s game at Princes Park, the Gills will be just two weeks away from their League 2 opener at Stockport. Harris can’t wait for the real business to begin.
He said “(On Tuesday night) I said today, ‘come on, 9.15pm, let’s get on with it, let’s get the game done.
“August 3, that’s my Thursday before my Saturday at Stockport, that is when I will really get excited.
“Let’s get the players in, let’s finish adding to the group as quickly as we can and get around to August 3 as quickly as possible.”